Sweep rake



June 22; 1943.

SWEEP RAKE Filed March 20, 1940 2 Sheets-'Shee/t 1 l N V EN TOR N 3 mm Q3. O m mm m .1. @8 S 8 mm 0 WNON N 2 E. V 2 mm :1 m c I ATTORNEYS.

G. B. HILL June 22; 1943.

SWEEP RAKE Filed March 20,1940

2 Sheets-Shqt 2 INVENTOR:

GEO GE B. HILL N QI ' ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 22, 1943 SWEEP RAKE George B. Hill, Ottumwa, Iowa,assignor to Dain Manufacturing Company of Iowa, Ottumwa, Iowa, acorporation of Iowa Application March 20, 1940, Serial No. 324,935

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to agricultural implements and has as itsprincipal object the provision of a new and improved tractor mountedsweep rake having a rake head structure supported on dirigible wheelsdisposed intermediate the ends thereof and so arranged as to provideample clearance for turning the wheels to either side. One of thefeatures of my invention is that the rake head supporting wheels aredisposed closely adjacent the front wheels of the tractor, resulting ingreatly improved steering qualities for the implement.

Another object is to provide a wheel supported rake head structure thatcombines great strength with light weight and can be manufactured at lowcost.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved steeringconnection between the steering spindle of a tractor and the dirigiblewheels of an implement associated with the tractora Still another objectof my invention is to provide an improved adjustable ball and socketconnection between the dirigible wheel axle member and the steeringlinkage of a tractor mounted sweep rake.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent after consideration of the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings,inwhich Figure 1 is a perspective side view ofa tractor" mounted sweep rake constructed according to the principles ofmy invention, the near wheel of the tractor being removed to show thelifting connection;

Figure 2 is a perspective plan view of the front end of the rake, with aportion of the structure removed for a clearer showing of the details ofthe rake head and steering linkage;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-4 inFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a partially sectioned detail view of the tractor steeringspindle and its connection with the steering linkage on the rake head,the near wheel being removed for a clearer showing of the construction;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the steering arms,taken substantially along the line 6-5 in Figure 6 and showing theadjustable socket connection at one end of the the dirigible wheels forsupporting the rake head.

Referring now to the drawings, the sweep rake 8 is adapted to be mountedon a tractor 9 having a generally longitudinally extending body l0supported at its front end on a dirigible truck II and at its rear endon a pair of laterally spaced driving wheels l2, only one of which isshown in Figure 1. The dirigible truck comprises a vertical steeringspindle |3 joumaled in a sleeve l4 and having a pair of laterally spacedwheels l5 journaled on axles l6 extending laterally and downwardly fromthe lower end 4 of the spindle.

The sweep rake 8 has a rake head 20 comprising a pair of longitudinallyspaced; generally transversely extending members 2| and 22 connected bycrossed diagonal bracing members 23 to form a rigid truss construction.A plurality of laterally spaced rake teeth 24 are connected at theirrear ends to the transverse members 2|, 22 and extend forwardlytherefrom. Two of the teeth 24a. and 2412, are supported entirely on"the front member 2| by reason of the fact that the rake head supportingwheels to be described hereinafter are disposed between the transversemembers 2|, 22 in the line of these two teeth. Additional support isprovided for teeth 24a, 24b, therefore, by means of two laterally spacedtriangular gusset plates IB and I! which are fixed to the front member2| and to their respective teeth 24a, 241), as best shown in Figure 2.Fixed to the outer ends of the rake head are forwardly and upwardlyextending side bars 25 which serve to prevent hay carried on the teethfrom falling off to either side.

The rear transverse member 22 is preferably made up of a straight centerbeam 26 and two outer beams 30 and 3|, the latter beams beingsubstantially in alignment at their outer ends with the center beam 26and offset rearwardly, preferably curved, to provide substantiallysemicircular wheel-receiving sections 32 and 33, and joined to thecenter beam 26 at points spaced inwardly from the outer ends thereof.The outer ends of the beam 26 terminate substantially at the centers ofthe semi-circular sections 32, 33, respectively, and mounted on saidouter ends are laterally spaced supporting wheels 34. Each of the wheels34 is journaled on an axle member 35 which is disposed between thevertically spaced arms of a U-shaped bracket member 36 fixed to theouter end of the beam 26 and is pivotally connected therewith by a kingpin 40 for turning about a vertical axis. An arm 4| is fixed to each ofthe axle members 35 and extends forwardly therefrom around the front ofits respective I wheel, the front end of the arm being turnedupwardlyand tapered to form a shank 42 of reduced diameter having a ball 43provided at its extremity.

The wheels 34 are connected with the vertical spindle II on the tractorto turn in unison with the tractor wheels i5 by means of steeringlinkage comprising a transversely disposed tie rod 44,

preferably in the form of a tube, extending across 45 formed in thebottom of the tube 44 with the restricted portion thereof extendinglongitudinally of the tube. The enlarged portion 45 of the key hole slotis adapted to pass the ball 43 so that the latter can be inserted intothe interior of the tube 44, While the restricted portion of the slotallows the reduced shank 42 to slide lengthwise therein and alsoprovides for a limited amount of rocking motion of the tube 44 on theball 43. A pair of companionate concave socket members 50 and 5| areslidably disposed within the tube 44 and have their adjacent faces 52formed to provide a substantially hemispherical socket within which theball 43 is engaged. A plurality of wafer-like spacers or shims 53 areadapted to be selectively positioned within the tube behind either ofthe members 50, 5| and provide an axial adjustment of the socket memberswithin the tube for purposes of aligning the wheels 34. An annularshoulder 54 formed on the inner wall of the tube 44 supports the spacersfrom one direction, and a threaded plug 51. is screwed into the end ofthe tube to hold the spacers from the other direction. The end of theplug 51 is provided with notches 58 to receive a split cotter pin 55which is inserted through aligned holes in the tube, thereby locking theplug securely in place in the pipe.

Fixed to the midpoint of the tube 44 and extending perpendicularlyrearwardly therefrom is a 'tube 56 which is braced laterally withrespect to the tube 44 by forwardly diverging bracing members 60, weldedor otherwise fixed thereto. Slidably disposed within the tube 55 is ashaft iii, the rear end of which is bifurcated to form one of the yokesB2 of a universal joint 63. The

- other yoke 64 of the universal joint is fixed to the front end of anarm 65 which is bolted at 66 to the bottom of the vertical steeringspindle i3 and extends forwardly and upwardly therefrom. Thus, when thesteering spindle i3 is turned in either direction, the arm 65 turns withit and, by virtue of the universal joint and telescopic shaft connectionwith the tube 44, causes the latter to move axially, thereby turning thewheels 34 in unison with the tractor wheels l5.

Spaced on either side of the fore and aft center line of the rake are apair of generally vertically extending frame structures 10 and ll,mounted on the transverse members 2| and 22. Each of the vertical framestructures comprises a pair of upwardly extending members 12 and 13,fixed at their lower ends to the transverse beams 26 and 2|,respectively and joined together at 14. Each of the vertically extendingframe structures 10, H is braced by a pair of struts l5 and 15 which arefixed to the outer ends of the transverse member's 2| and 3|,respectively, and converge upwardly and inwardly to connect withvertical frame members 13. A transversely extending tie beam 8| extendsbetween the two vertical structures III and H andis connected.

therewith at the points of connection with bracing members l5, 16.

A push-oi! device Si is swung from pivot'bolts disposed between thewheel receiving sections 32, 33 of the rake head and in overlappingrelation with respect to the rake supporting wheels 34, as shown inFigure 2. To this end, a pair of laterally spaced fore and aft extendingpush bars 33, 84 are disposed along opposite sides of the tractor bodyand are pivotally connected therewith at their rear ends for verticalswinging by pivot bolts 35. The push bars 83, 84 diverge forwardly andare connected together at their front ends by a cross beam l8.Downwardly extending plates 81 are fixed to the front ends of the pushbars 83, 34 and are pivotally connected at 30 with brackets 3| fixed tothe cross beam 26, to allow the rake to be tilted vertically relative tothe bars about the transverse axis of pivot bolts 90-".

The rake head 20 is tilted between raking and transport positions aboutthe axis of the wheels 34 through the agency of a pair of laterallyspaced, longitudinally extending rods 82, 93 disposed on opposite sidesof the tractor and connected at their front ends with the vertical framemembers 12 by yielding spring connections 34. The rear ends of the rods92, 93 are pivoted at 95 on arms 96 mounted on the outer ends of thetransversely extending lift shaft 91, which may be rocked by anysuitable means. Rockingthe shaft 91 in a clockwise direction pulls therods 92, 93 to swing the rake head up to raised position.

It is believed that the advantages of my invention will be apparent fromthe foregoing description of the preferred embodiment thereof, and whatI claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A tractor-propelled sweep rake comprising longitudinally spaced frontand rear members disposed transverse to the line of forward travel, saidrear member comprising a center beam and two outer beams connectedtherewith and extending laterally in opposite directions, a pair ofdirigible supporting wheels connected with the outer ends of said centerbeam for turning about vertical pivots, each of said outer beams beingoffset rearwardly with respect to the center beams to provide clearancefor its respective wheel.

2. A tractor-propelled sweep rake comprising longitudinally spaced frontand rear members disposed transverse to the line of forward travel, saidrear member comprising a center beam and two outer beams connectedtherewith and extending laterally in opposite directiouaa pair ofdirigible wheels pivoted on the outer ends of said center beam forturning on vertical axes, each of said outer beams being curvedrearwardly to provide clearance for its respective wheel, the

outer end portions of said outer beams being diaposed substantially inalignment with said center er beams joined together to form a unitarymember, said outer beams being connected with said center beam at pointsspaced inwardly from the outer ends thereof and having curved offsetportions substantially arcuate about the outer ends of the center beam,a pair of laterally spaced supporting wheels disposed between saidtransverse members, and means pivotally supporting said wheels on theouter ends of said center beam for turning on vertical axes.

4. A sweep rake comprising a rake head including a front transversetooth supporting frame member, a transverse axle member spacedrearwardly of said frame member and terminating inwardly of the ends ofthe latter, a pair of ground wheels mounted at opposite ends of saidaxle member, and a pair of rear frame members connected at their innerends to said axle member adJacent the respective wheels and extendingrearwardiy and outwardly of said wheels, and bracing members connectingsaid front and rear frame members outside of said wheels.

5. A tractor operated sweep rake comprising a rake head including afront transverse frame member, a transverse axle member spacedrearwardly of said front member and terminating inwardly of the ends ofthe latter, a pair of dlrigible ground wheels mounted at opposite endsof said axle member, respectively, by means providing for movement aboutgeneral vertical-axes,

erally spaced supporting wheels for said rake head, axle means for eachof said wheels, said axle means being pivotally supported on said rakehead on substantially vertical axes, a pair of steering arms fixed tosaid axle means, respectively, a steering bar adapted to be rigidlymounted on the steering post of a tractor to extend forwardly therefrom,a rigid steering tie member, and three flexible joint means forconnecting said tie member with said steering arms on said laterallyspaced wheels and with said steering bar, respectively, said tie memberbeing supported solely on said three flexible joint means.

7. A tractor operatedsweep rake comprising a rake head, verticallyswingable draft members for connecting the latter with a tractor, a pairof laterally spaced supporting wheels for said rake head, axle means foreach of said wheels, said axle means being pivotally supported on saidrake head on substantially vertical axes, a pair of steering arms fixedto said axle means, respectively, a steering bar adapted to be rigidlymounted on the steering post of a tractor to extend forwardly therefrom,a rigid T-shaped steering tie member comprising a transverse tie rodextending between said steering arms, universal joints connecting saidarms with opposite ends of said tie rod and supporting the latter, and alongitua pair of rear frame members connected at their inner ends tosaid axle member in' laterally spaced arrangement and curving rearwardlyabout said wheels, the outer ends of said rear frame members extendinglaterally in substantial alignment with said axle member, and aplurality of longitudinally extending rake teeth fastened to said fronttransverse frame member and to said axle and rear frame members.

6. A tractor operated sweep rake comprising a rake head, draft meanstherefor, a pair of latdinally extending member rigidly fixed to saidtierod intermediate the ends of the latter, a second longitudinallydisposed member telescopical- 1y related to the first mentionedlongitudinally extending member, and a universal joint connecting saidsecond longitudinal member with said steering bar and serving as a thirdsupport for said T-shaped tie member, whereby said steering tie memberis supported solely upon said steering arms and said steering bar and isshifted laterally by the latter to steer the rake wheels with thetractor.

' GEORGE B. HILL.

